As described herein, a system, method, and computer program are provided for using artificial intelligence for online charging. A request for use of a network service by an entity is identified. Account allowances/balances to which the requested use of the network service can be charged are determined. Insights generated by an artificial intelligence system are accessed, where the insights predict future use of the network service (e.g. that will be charged to each account allowance/balance). A quota size to be requested in association with a select account allowance/balance is determined, based on the request for the use of the network service and the insights. A reservation request to reserve the quota size from the select account allowance/balance is generated. The use of the network service is authorized, when the quota size is reserved from the select account allowance/balance for the use of the network service.

A quota management method includes: sending, by a client, a charging request to a server, where the charging request carries quota request information and information of quota usage; receiving, by the client, a granted quota and indication information from the server; processing, by the client, the granted quota and a remaining quota on the client based on the indication information, where the remaining quota is a difference between a quota granted by the server last time and the quota usage in the charging request; and using, by the client, a processed quota, and reporting information of usage of the processed quota when a reporting condition is met.

A node (30) of a charging system (28) associated with a communication network (10) considers subscriber-designated priorities in a circumstance that involves two or more communication services “competing” for the same pool of credit that is used in online charging for consumption of the two or more communication services. As an example, subscriber information (34) associated with a user device (12) includes input from the involved subscriber that designates a certain communication service as a prioritized communication service. Ina case where granting quotas of service units for authorizing service consumption and making corresponding credit reservations involves competition between a subscriber-prioritized service and another service not prioritized by the subscriber, the node (30) adapts its granting operations to give preference to the subscriber-prioritized service.

Embodiments manage use of different network connections for data transfer in view of priority information and a data usage plan identifying threshold limits associated with the different network connections. A computing device receives data transfer requests from applications executing on the computing device. The data transfer requests have priority information associated therewith. The computing device compares the priority information with available network connections. One or more of the data transfer requests are selected for initiation based on the comparison and on the threshold limits.

A core network for mobile communication system is provided. The core network includes a first network function (NF) element, a second NF element, and an operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) element. The OAM element periodically transmits a resource quota status message to the second NF element to obtain a count number of the resource of first NF element and a limit value of the count number via the second NF element, and adjusts the limit value of the resource of the first NF element according to the count number and the limit value of the resource of the first NF element.

This disclosure is directed to system to monitor and control data flow in a network. At least one device in a core network may be responsible for charging functions related to the data requests. During certain high usage scenarios (e.g., emergencies, special events, etc.), it may be possible for the charging system to be overwhelmed. For example, a policing system may be implemented in the core network to at least manage the flow of requests to the charging system. The policing system may monitor and control request flow to the charging system based on at least one policy. When a request is determined to violate a policy, the policing system may take corrective action to prevent the charging system from being overwhelmed. For example, the policing system may block the request, divert the request to another charging system that may have available capacity, etc.

This disclosure is directed to system to monitor and control data flow in a network. At least one device in a core network may be responsible for charging functions related to the data requests. During certain high usage scenarios (e.g., emergencies, special events, etc.), it may be possible for the charging system to be overwhelmed. For example, a policing system may be implemented in the core network to at least manage the flow of requests to the charging system. The policing system may monitor and control request flow to the charging system based on at least one policy. When a request is determined to violate a policy, the policing system may take corrective action to prevent the charging system from being overwhelmed. For example, the policing system may block the request, divert the request to another charging system that may have available capacity, etc.

The present disclosure is directed to using distributed ledger architectures. In one example, a distributed ledger system includes a first wireless provider and a second wireless provider configured to provide wireless services to one or more of end users of the first wireless provider to roam on; and a plurality of nodes associated with one or more of the wireless providers. Each of the plurality of nodes is configured to access a digital record of an exchange of wireless services between the first wireless provider and the second wireless provider; enable roaming of the one or more of the end users on the second wireless provider upon detecting a first triggering condition; monitor usage of the wireless services; verify the roaming based on the monitoring of the wireless services; and terminate the roaming of the one or more of the end users upon detecting a second triggering condition.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a charging function (125) for handling a subscriber's communication services. The charging function (125) detects that a subscriber's credit account has reached or fallen below a credit threshold when the subscriber has multiple ongoing communication services consuming credit from the credit account. The charging function (125) sends a threshold notification to a UE (101) on which the subscriber has at least one of the multiple ongoing communication services. The charging function (125) determines if a response to the threshold notification has been received with prioritization of one of the multiple ongoing communication services. If a response with prioritization of one communication service has been received, the charging function (125) initiates termination of all ongoing communication services except the prioritized communication service, and provides all available credit to be available for the prioritized communication service.

A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use.